Dejan Lovren has revealed the half-time commotion that jolted Liverpool into life and allowed their Champions League adventure to continue.
The Croatia defender was one of Liverpool’s standout performers on a dramatic night against Manchester City, producing arguably the best 90 minutes of a career at Anfield that has often seen his suitability for such occasions called into question.
He was exempt from criticism during a first 45 minutes when the intensity of City’s attacking took Liverpool to the limits; they scored one goal through Gabriel Jesus and Lovren conceded his team were ‘lucky’ not to have gone into the interval trailing by two.
Dejan Lovren has revealed his rallying cry at half-time that inspired Liverpool on Tuesday night
Gabriel Jesus (centre) scored as Manchester City had Liverpool on the ropes at the Etihad
However, Lovren produced a rousing team-talk at half-time as Liverpool won 2-1 at the Etihad
The break, however, changed everything, particularly in the away dressing room. Lovren was one of the most vocal in demanding Liverpool rouse themselves and once the players had spoken, Jurgen Klopp took over and reminded them what was at stake. The result turned out to be spectacular.
‘To be honest I was shouting a bit at half time,’ said Lovren, taking up the story. ‘I told the lads to wake up because it was not good enough and I said we were sitting too deep. Of course Klopp said “Yes you are sitting too deep because you are not pushing up”.
‘He wanted me and Virgil (van Dijk) to be more compact and push the team up but it was quite difficult, you know, to push up when City had the ball. It was all positive; there was nothing negative. But I needed to remind the guys that we had 50 minutes to be in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
‘We needed to give more. The first 10-15 minutes (of the first half) wasn’t good enough. When you see the second half, again they had a couple of chances but nothing too serious. We talked on the pitch, a few of us, and said (after Jesus scored) we need to keep our heads and stick together.
‘We had luck in a couple of moments to be honest, but when you look over the two games we have been brave and when you are brave the luck goes with you. When you go and score two goals it is enough. We deserved that.’
Mohamed Salah scored Liverpool’s equalising goal on the night that effectively killed the tie
Roberto Firmino (centre) scored the Reds’ second as they won the second leg 2-1 on Tuesday
Europe has, once again, given Liverpool supporters the opportunity to dream and few would be in a hurry to discount them potentially going all the way to the final in Kiev on May 26. In one-off games, Klopp’s side have proven they can beat anyone.
A deal of perspective, however, needs to be applied. Liverpool, for all that entertainment in the Champions League, remain 17 points behind Manchester City in the Premier League and Lovren recognises that statistic must be changed next season.
‘The regret is definitely the first six or seven games of the season in the Premier League,’ said Lovren. ‘We had many draws and they took us out of the first place. I would say we didn’t have any luck with injuries again and City didn’t have injuries all season.
‘They deserve to be champions but we are in good shape now and hopefully we can go to the final and it can be a good season for us. Also, we need to finish in the top four for next season. We didn’t catch up well from the beginning.
‘I’m definitely confident that next season we can push everyone, even ourselves to do better from the beginning to the end. People talked from the beginning about Manchester City being favourites and they were favourites but I think after this there should be more respect for Liverpool.’
Lovren hopes Liverpool can challenge the likes of City for the Premier League title next season